In designating the new building area ‘Am Kreuzäcker,’ the city of Ingolstadt not only addressed the issue of defining a new village edge but also focused on a horticultural artifact. The existing ‘Rose Garden’ in the project area was not merely a garden monument in the classic sense of monument maintenance but rather an emotional monument, representing a deep emotional bond.
In the midst of arable land and without the use of machinery, the ‘Rosenpapst’ Johann Heindl from Oberhaunstadt created a small oasis with thousands of roses over decades, attracting visitors nationwide, especially during the flowering season. To preserve this legacy, it was designated as the new nucleus of the proposed residential area, around which the new development would evolve.
The timing was opportune, as the ‘Rosenpapst’ had to relinquish care of his garden due to age, prompting its transfer to a public green space to maintain community cohesion.
Central to this endeavor was the procurement process, which included a design proposal by the city of Ingolstadt. The municipal GWG was awarded the contract, with a design by 03 Arch (Munich), for building fields B02 and B03, comprising a total of 58 subsidized rental apartments and a daycare center. These plots encompassed the rose garden to the east and west. Collaborating with 03 architects, urban planners, and the city of Ingolstadt, as the client for the public green space, we developed the two building fields from the outset in alignment with the conversion of the ‘Rose Garden’ into a public open space.
While parts of the ‘Rose Garden’ couldn’t be preserved due to its size, the central area and a northern section, already evolved into a valuable woody biotope, were retained.
The essential premise was not to confine the ‘Rose Garden’ to the construction fields or pathways; rather, B02 and B03 were to embody the spirit of the ‘Rose Garden.’ This approach demanded meticulous planting planning, ensuring permeability, and detailed attention to equipment and color schemes.
Furthermore, the green area serves as a stepping stone in the city’s ‘2nd green ring,’ intended to safeguard the city’s open spaces and fresh air supply permanently.
Thanks to a successful application to the federal funding program ‘Model Projects for Climate Adaptation and Modernization in Urban Spaces – Concept for the Promotion of Parks and Green Areas,’ the ensemble gained national recognition.
The application’s focus on climate, biodiversity, and social sustainability secured the award for the national program:
•Networking with the second green ring – Air exchange – Improvement of thermal comfort
•Preservation of ingrown edges and individual shrubs, protection against invasive species
•Planting planning focusing not only on rose varieties but also on biodiversity and a closed soil cover
•Preparation of the existing soil to sustainable, low-maintenance growing conditions
•Extensive rainwater management
•Open designs to intensify air exchange
•Limiting sealed areas to a necessary minimum
•Use of environmentally friendly materials and local suppliers
In the ‘Rose Garden,’ designed in collaboration with plant planner Hanne Roth, resilient rose species dominate, complemented by biodiversity-promoting perennials, seedlings, and shrubs. Following a color concept of red, pink, and white, this theme extends to the fittings and facades.
At the center of the ‘Rose Garden,’ ‘Heindl’s Shadow Tree,’ a field maple, is preserved, serving as a nod to its creator. A wooden deck, reminiscent of his resting bench, invites visitors to linger. Existing trees within the northern biotope are preserved, with 31 additional trees planted. Climate-resilient and locally adapted woods are emphasized, along with insect-friendly wild fruit species and native trees like the field maple.
These climate-relevant themes and design elements extend into the residential quarters, where playgrounds and outdoor nursery areas incorporate the ‘Rose Garden’s’ color concept, fostering a cohesive aesthetic identity. Green roofs and extensively planted surroundings further integrate the buildings into their natural surroundings.
Thus, the work of ‘Rosenpapst’ Johann Heindl, who transformed farmland into a rose-scented sanctuary, is honored sustainably, ensuring its legacy endures into the future.
Other landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:
Hanne Roth, Plant Planning
Architecture offices involved in the design:
03 Arch. GmbH, München
Location: Ingolstadt Oberhaunstadt, Am Kreuzäcker, Germany
Design year: 2018
Year Completed: 2023
